So You Think Modders Charge Too Much? Read This!

[Gene]

I, like all of you, love flashlights and especially LOVE LED lights. I have been here on CPF for a long time and have been fascinated with the advances made with LED's and with what our wonderful modders here do with them. I have also noticed folks here sometimes complain about what modders charge for their work. Let me tell you a story about how they EARN EVERYTHING they ask!

I made aquaintance with one of our best modders "Chop" awhile back when he posted about a wonderful G2 clickie he had stumbled upon using a clickie from a Garrity 2XAA "Ozark Trails" light. He was so helpful to me and came up with THE BEST G2 clickie there is! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I didn't know that he was such a talented modder until I started noticing his posts concerning his modding of Surefire KL1 heads. I PM'd him and asked what he would recommend to make my sickly purple KL1 a little brighter and whiter. He got right back to me and said if I would be willing to try a mod myself, he would send me a KL1 heatsink with an R2K LS attached. I wanted to tell him "thanks but no thanks" but I decided it was time for me to "put up or shut-up"!

He sent it right out and I was unsure if I could do it. He patiently described how to break the KL1 bezel ring and that's when my modder's nightmare started! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I had one of those KL1's that whomever put it together at Surefire, made damn sure it was never coming apart again! Even with Chop's guidance, it took me parts of two days and a BIG blister on my finger to break that damn thing! I had to take breaks because I wanted to hit that sucker with a sledge hammer! I had heated it with a heat gun over and over and it still wouldn't break. When I finally broke it, this thing had so much epoxy on the outside threads, that the INSIDE of the bezel's top half was filled with epoxy that had oozed in. As careful as I was though, the Pyrex lens cracked and there were noticeable marks on the bezel ring. I didn't care because it was finally loose! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I then de-soldered the leads and took the stock heatsink and the original sickly LED out and soldered Chop's R2K heatsink in. What a difference! I finally had a KL1, (although scarred and lens cracked), that was white and bright!

What I'm trying to say here is even though this mod was a bear for me to do, THINK about what Chop and other modders go through to do these mods. They have to take these things apart and NOT scar the bodies. If they do, they have to replace the scarred parts with new and the expense comes out of their pockets. They also have to take the LED's out and re-solder another in. If you ask for an overdriven LS, that entails even much more work!

I'll tell you folks, after this experience, I found out the hard way that these guys EARN THEIR MONEY! The next time a modder quotes you a price that you think is excessive, think about all the work that goes into that prized mod you're so proud of!

I want to thank Chop for all his generosity and patience with this simpilest of mods that wasn't simple to me! If you see Chop and others advertise a modded head, think about all the work that goes into it! God bless 'em! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[grift]

Gene i totally agree. i hope to one day find the time, patience and expertise to mod myself, but until then (and even afterwards) i'll always enjoy a cpf modder light over factory/mass produced. mods are unique and there in lies the appeal imo................

 

[JonSidneyB]

I do not think the modders charge too much at all, in fact they may be charging to little. What they produce is what people are willing to play. Economics does play a role here. If you like what is available from the manufacturers, get it. If you want something they do not offer, modders is the way to go. As supply of a light goes up, the price it can command goes down if people have full information. The modders have a higher cost per unit if we include time into the equation. The trick would be for modders to find how elastic thier market is for a particular light. Plus, I higher price will encourage more to make us what we desire.

 

[kubolaw]

I don't know who thinks modders charge too much, certainly not me. I've always thought they charge far too little! I attribute that "discount" to the generosity and enthusiasm of the enlightened flashaholic, and it always makes me think about what a nice hobby this is ...

 

[AlphaTea]

OMG Gene!
Your KL1 experience sounds exactly like mine!!!
I too had a bit of guidance from Chop.

Yes, they are worth what they ask for. Three cheers for CHOP et al /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[BC0311]

Congratulations on your mod, Gene. You make an excellent point.

These professional modders are craftsmen. Pure and simple. In order to have a frame-off, blueprinted custom...I'll exercise my do-it-myself initiative by writing a check. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Again, my compliments for your determination and seeing your project through to its completion. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

BC

 

[Chop]

I don't think that I'd call myself a professional modder, but thanks for the appreciation guys. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[avusblue]

Gene, your story is precisely why I paid LitFuse to upgrade my 3 Z57 clickies -- when others do it themself for free. I was confident the job would be done right, and it was.

As for my skills, I'm always pleasantly surprised when I install an Opalec Newbeam module and it works!

Dave

 

[Gene]

Thanks so much BC! I was bound and determined to see it through although I have to admit Chop did half the work by soldering the R2K LS to a KL1 heatsink. After getting the darn KL1 broke, soldering and centering the optics was a piece of cake. These KL1 mods sure are the ticket. This conversion is truly recommended! Again, I want to thank Chop so much for his encouragement and generosity!

Alpha, if your experience was like mine, I congratulate you also! I just couldn't believe how much epoxy was used in my particular example.

I want to say, that I've dealt with some of the most talented modders here and ALL of them are the most generous, nicest folks there are. I want to give a special salute to Chop, (you're so generous!), Rothrandir, (you too my friend!), CM, lambda, (I can't get enough of your wonderful minis!), DSpeck, ElecktroLumens and dat2zip. I've never had any dealings with McGizmo but I sure have noticed how helpful he is here!

I also want to commend ALL the folks here on CPF for their civility and the sharing of their knowledge. I salute you all!

 

[StoneDog]

I've dealt with two other modders on this forum. I paid them because I don't have the skill, experience or tools to do it myself. And I don't think I paid too much. I know what the materials cost and anything over that is simply the fee they charge for taking the time to do a mod for me that I'm simply incapable of doing myself.

I won't try an e-can/e-sink mod, much less tearing apart a SureFire bezel!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Jon

 

[RussH]

Re: So You Think Modders Charge Too Much? Read This!

I never gave a thought re 'overcharge' when Hotbeam told me what a MR-X TK would cost me. But then. I'm planning to do this same mod myself - I'm just waiting for a better LED. Maybe (where's the overstrike key?) PROBABLY a 3W.
Some of my friend are making fun of me for spending that much money on a modified M@glite. I just wait until it's dark & ...........well, you can figure it out.

-RussH

 

[Gene]

Re: So You Think Modders Charge Too Much? Read This!

Hi Dave! The first "mod" I ever tried was trying to get an AA MagmaLED to fit into a AAA mini mag head. Pretty straight forward and simple but I managed to screw it up!

By the way, I'm not in ANY WAY trying to say with this thread that our modders here are "overcharging"! I was just using that as a "lead-in" line for this thread, if you know what I mean. I HAVE read a couple of times though where folks have mentioned how can modders ask, say, $75.00 to $95.00 for a mod to a KL1 or whatever and when that price even includes the KL1 head! Now you know and it's a BARGAIN!

 

[Chop]

Re: So You Think Modders Charge Too Much? Read This!

RussH,
Don't let your friends mess with you about that M@g mod. Wait until things are right then put it together. M@g mods are probably some of the MOST cost effective mods out there and they are BRIGHT.